The Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM) was introduced in1989 to recognise meritorious achievement or devotion to duty in non-warlike situations.
The CSM is a nickel-silver medal with the obverse having a central device of the Southern Cross surrounded by a laurel wreath. The reverse has a horizontal panel for recipient details over a design of fluted rays.
The CSM ribbon has alternating narrow diagonal stripes of bush green and sandy gold.
A further award of the CSM is denoted by a nickel-silver bar with a superimposed central replica of the Medal flanked by laurel leaves. When the ribbon is worn alone, the award of a bar is indicated by the addition of a ribbon bar emblem in the form of the Medal.
Recipients of the Conspicuous Service Medal are entitled to the postnominal letters ‘CSM’. Recipients of a bar to the CSM add ‘and Bar’ to the postnominal.
The source document for the CSM is:
CAG S108 of 7 May 1990 (Letters Patent and Regulations).
The nomination procedure is detailed in Defence Instruction (General) PERS 31-5 Australian Defence Force Policy on Nomination Procedures for the Order of Australia and Conspicuous Service Decorations.
The position of the CSM in the Australian Order of Wear may be seen here.
Web page last updated 25 Oct 2007